Why dont monitors lay flat on the desk?

[Mxsmanic]

not if you're 6'8". your eyes should be centered on the middle of the
monitor with your head in a neutral position.

The standard advice is that the top edge of the display should be
level with your eyes. I also find that having my eyes closer to the
center of the display is more comfortable, however. Fortunately, my
current monitor allows quite a bit of adjustment, so I have it pretty
much where I want it.

For me in a wheelchair (which
sits higher than most chairs) my 21" monitor has to be raised 3 1/2 inches.
different strokes...........

I've always just stacked the monitor on top of some telephone books or
something. It's cheap and it works. Be sure you use strong and
sturdy objects if the monitor is a CRT.

 

[Mxsmanic]

When buying new glasses, most optical companies offer 2 for 1 specials.
I have my second pair near vision only. not bi-focal. Problem
solved. :')

Makes sense. And put them in a reserved spot next to the monitor (not
using them for any other purpose). That way they are always there
when you want to use the monitor.

 

[Mike T.]

Would you venture to say that even a little lower is
better yet?

Slightly lower is good. You don't want to be looking too far down to see
the bottom of the monitor, but you should be looking slightly downward while
reading text near the top of the monitor. -Dave

 

[Mike T.]

The upper edge of the display should be just at or above your eye
level when you are seated normally in front of the computer. Most
monitors are actually too low by default, although some come with a
stand that can be adjusted through a wide range. Avoid monitors that
are right on the desk such that you have to tilt your head down to
look at them; over time this causes a lot of fatigue.

No, the upper edge of the viewable display should be just below eye level,
or AT eye level. -Dave

 

[Mike T.]

A raised platform is the way it should be, as the monitor should be
just below eye level. Most monitors are too low unless they are
placed on some sort of platform.

Ummm, no. Due to the design of most desks, most monitors are too high if
they are sitting right on the desktop. Only certain desks are ergonomically
correct for monitor placement, as they are made to install monitors
partially below the desktop. (recessed monitors) -Dave

 

[JAD]

uhhhhh, no

uh no, your neck should be in a neutral position if your looking down your
instinctively going to arch your neck down,,not good. Your eyes should be
able to scan the entire monitor with just an eye reposition, and not going
to the full range of your peripheral vision.

Your eyes should be no lower than the very top of the VIEWABLE area of the
monitor. The reason is that the human eye will focus easier on things when
you are looking DOWN at them.

If your personal preference is strong enough, you might convince yourself
that your eyes are not human.

HuH? what does that have to do with anything?

However, it would be a good idea for you to

 

[JAD]

No, the upper edge of the viewable display should be just below eye level,
or AT eye level. -Dave

sigh.............

 

[Rod Speed]

In the days before computers we had papers
spread out over a desktop laying flat in the
desk surface where you looked down at them.

How come no LCD monitors are made to lay flat on desk?

There are a few setup like that, but
basically most prefer to have them vertical.

It would sure be a lot easier on my bifocal eyes if the monitor
was flat and I was looking thru my near vision part of glasses
at it.... rather than craning my neck looking at one upright

No reason why you cant mount it anyway you like.

 

[Rod Speed]

(e-mail address removed) wrote

Bob Horvath wrote

yeah I've been thinking on that as well

Yeah, that's what I did, told the optometrist that I wanted
them optimised for viewing the monitor, told him how far
the monitor was from my eyes, got an excellent result that
I can use all day very comfortably.

My bifocals just aren't "getting it" for computer use anymore

Yeah, I've never bothered with them myself, too many hassles.

I have 48 yr old eyes.... getting worse by the year

Mine do get worse but quite slowly. I dont bother to update
the prescription at the rate the optometrist suggests, just
wait till the long distance non monitor focus isnt ideal and
get a new prescription then.

Been thinking abt LASIK.... but scared I guess

I'm not silly enough to **** with my eyes. With glasses you can
always have another go prescription wise, you cant with LASIK.

 

[Rod Speed]

62 here. I have been wearing the continuous focus glasses for
probably 30 years. About 4 years ago I started having neck pain
after using the PC for long periods of time. My eye doctor
recommended a pair of continuous focus lenses with a short focal
point for reading and PC work. These focus from about 1 to 8 feet -
solved the neck pain problem for me.

But the originator of the thread had a good point. I think a monitor
that sits low on the desk at a 45 degree angle (adjustable) would be
more comfortable. But I wonder if that would lead to slouching and
poor ergonomics --

Yeah, even with paper documents, I wouldnt normally
want to spend all day reading them flat on a desktop.

is there an advantage to vertical screens in that they encourage you to sit up
straighter?

Yep.

Best approach is to ditch the bifocals when using monitors.

 

[hdrdtd]

Here's a ergonomics chart for computer use....

http://www.nrhrehab.org/images/rr/ergonomics.gif

Here's another
http://www.office-ergo.com/setting.htm

And here's one fron OSHA

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components_monitors.html

 

[GTS]

The upper edge of the display should be just at or above your eye
level when you are seated normally in front of the computer. Most
monitors are actually too low by default, although some come with a
stand that can be adjusted through a wide range. Avoid monitors that
are right on the desk such that you have to tilt your head down to
look at them; over time this causes a lot of fatigue.

Many organisations are now questioning this 'top of monitor at eye-level'
advice , including Trade Unions & Universities - turns out there was never
any scientific basis for it and it can cause considerable discomfort:
http://www.ankrumassociates.com/articles/A_Challenge_to_Eye_Level_Monitor_Placement.pdf
http://www.yorku.ca/dohs/ergonomics/neck.htm
http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/monitor.htm
http://www.acs.unimelb.edu.au/oh&s/ergonomics.html
http://www.wtcexams.org/pdfs/nycosh_repetitive_stress_injuries.pdf

 

[Mxsmanic]

Ummm, no. Due to the design of most desks, most monitors are too high if
they are sitting right on the desktop.

I have yet to see a desk like this. Invariably, the monitor is too
low, unless it has an adjustable stand.

 

[Mxsmanic]

No, the upper edge of the viewable display should be just below eye level,
or AT eye level.

That's the accepted wisdom, but I find that extremely tiring. In
fact, I actually prefer to have my eyes near the center of the
display. I'm not sure why it is always recommended that the display
be lower.

 

[Mxsmanic]

Many organisations are now questioning this 'top of monitor at eye-level'
advice , including Trade Unions & Universities - turns out there was never
any scientific basis for it and it can cause considerable discomfort:

It's odd that nobody looks at the examples of ordinary television sets
and movie screens, both of which tend to be positioned rather high
with respect to the line of sight.

 

[Blinky the Shark]

It's odd that nobody looks at the examples of ordinary television sets
and movie screens, both of which tend to be positioned rather high
with respect to the line of sight.

As for movie screens: the people in back would like to be able to see,
too. Is that relevant for your computer monitor?

 

[Mike T.]

It's odd that nobody looks at the examples of ordinary television sets
and movie screens, both of which tend to be positioned rather high
with respect to the line of sight.

Yup, unfortunately, most televisions are not properly positioned for
comfortable long-term viewing, either. And I've seen some movie theaters
that are closER to ergonomically correct. But you'll always be too low in
the front rows and most of the middle rows, because the people behind you
need to be positioned higher than you. -Dave

 

[Mike T.]

I have yet to see a desk like this. Invariably, the monitor is too
low, unless it has an adjustable stand.

someone else posted this link:

"And here's one fron OSHA

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components_monitors.html
"

If you have a desk that allows your monitor to conform to OSHA regulations,
then either you have a really SHORT monitor, or your desk is exceptional,
ergonomically speaking. Invariably, a monitor sitting on a desk is too
high, and the adjustable stand can only make matters WORSE. -Dave

 

[Mike T.]

That's the accepted wisdom, but I find that extremely tiring. In

fact, I actually prefer to have my eyes near the center of the
display. I'm not sure why it is always recommended that the display
be lower.

Because human eyes focus better on objects when the eye is looking down at
them. Or, looking straight at something causes more eye fatigue faster, if
you are human. -Dave

 

[Rod Speed]

someone else posted this link:

"And here's one fron OSHA

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components_monitors.html
"

If you have a desk that allows your monitor to conform to OSHA
regulations, then either you have a really SHORT monitor, or your
desk is exceptional, ergonomically speaking. Invariably, a monitor
sitting on a desk is too high, and the adjustable stand can only make
matters WORSE. -Dave

Doesnt mean that the OSHA regulations have any scientific basis tho.